Interscale Content Hub – Using digital twins in the built environment helps stakeholders make data-driven decisions and improve how they operate. How exactly?
Digital twins give us a detailed insight into how well an asset is performing, how we can save energy and what maintenance is needed.
For instance, in urban planning, construction, and facility management, digital twins help make things more efficient by simulating and predicting outcomes under different scenarios, which helps reduce risks and costs.
Given all these benefits, it’s worth looking into the principles and applications of digital twins.
What is an Environmental Digital Twin?
Wassim AlBalkhy and colleagues in “Digital twins in the built environment: Definition, applications, and challenges,” point out how digital twins (DT) are still pretty new in the built environment (BE) industry.
Even though there’s growing interest in DT research in the BE industry, the concept is still unclear for many practitioners and researchers.
The DT research and applications in this industry are still in their infancy compared to other industries like automobiles, aerospace, logistics, and oil and gas, where DT has been effectively applied and recognised.
Even so, AlBalkhy et al. say there’s no agreement on how to define digital twins in a built environment.
But, the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), in “Digital Twins for the Built Environment,” says a digital twin is “a fit-for-purpose and intelligent virtual representation of it, synchronised at specific frequencies, with an existing or planned connection between the virtual and physical twin that may include analysis and the ability to actuate physical changes from the virtual twin.”
Simply put, it’s like having a live, interactive blueprint of a building or infrastructure that constantly updates itself with real-world data.
The main thing we know is the principle: an environmental digital twin is a dynamic virtual model that copies physical environmental systems, capturing their current state and predicting future changes.
These models bring together data from different sources in real time, including sensors in the physical asset, Building Information Modelling (BIM) data, and other relevant operational information.
How Digital Twins Work in the Built Environment
Building digital twins in the built environment is a pretty complex process – it involves lots of different technologies and data sources.
The process usually starts with creating a BIM model, which is the basis for the digital twin.
This model is then filled in with real-time data from sensors and other sources, creating a dynamic and interactive representation of the physical asset.
The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and Atkins’ white paper, “Digital Twins for the Built Environment”, highlight the importance of looking beyond just the technology to consider the methodology and integration of diverse datasets.
For instance, the Intelligent Communities Lifecycle (ICL), created by Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES), is used by Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
This digital twin covers over 200 buildings and has helped us make some big savings on energy and carbon emissions.
The data flow between the physical and digital twins is two-way, meaning that changes in the physical asset are reflected in the digital twin and vice versa.
This is done through a “constellation of data platforms or aggregators” for easy sharing of information between different systems, as explained in the IET and Atkins’ white paper.
As a point of reference, you might want to take a look at “Simulation vs Digital Twin: Why They Get in Debate? Why You Need Both?“
Benefits of Digital Twins in the Built Environment
A study in the IET and Atkins’ white paper says the global digital twin market will be worth USD $35.8 billion by 2025. It also says that half of all large industrial companies will be using them by 2021.
This rapid growth is a clear sign of how much of an advantage digital twins offer.
For example, digital twins can help cut energy use and reduce costs by giving you precise control over building systems.
They also help keep things safe by letting you know about dangerous situations as they happen, which can really cut down on risks on building sites and in operational facilities.
What’s more, digital twins help the environment by making the most of resources and cutting down on waste, so they’re great for meeting tough environmental targets.
In Australia, the Barangaroo precinct in Sydney uses a digital twin to keep an eye on and manage energy use in its buildings. This has led to a big drop in energy consumption.
For software reference, you can read “List of 7 Digital Twins Software as Your Cheat Code for Efficient Projects.”
Key Applications of Digital Twins in the Built Environment
One big use is in smart city development, where they’re used to manage urban infrastructure more efficiently.
For instance, the digital twin can help you keep an eye on and make improvements to traffic flow, which can cut congestion and emissions.
In the design phase, you can use digital twins to evaluate different design options and see how they affect things like energy efficiency, lighting, and acoustics.
Digital twins can also keep an eye on how construction is going, make sure resources are where they should be, and make sure everyone’s safety is being looked after.
Another use is in making existing buildings more energy-efficient and reducing their carbon footprint.
Digital twins can simulate different retrofit scenarios, helping decision-makers choose the best strategies.
This means that problems can be fixed before they become problems.
DIgital twins can also be really useful in disaster management, by simulating the potential impacts of natural hazards and aiding in the development of mitigation strategies.
The great thing is you can combine these applications to create one comprehensive digital twin solution that tackles lots of different challenges at once.
For example, a digital twin of a smart city could include individual building twins for facility management, as well as data from transportation and energy systems to make the whole urban environment more efficient.
How to Keep Your Business on Track While Managing Digital Twins
Making the move to a digital twin-powered built environment isn’t without its challenges.
The sheer volume of data, the need for specific expertise, and the ongoing upkeep of the digital twin can be a lot for many organisations to take on.
As a company with 10 years ++ of experience, we’ve got a full range of services to help you get to grips with the digital twin landscape.
We’re experts in BIM management, data integration and digital twin development.
What does it mean for your business?
We’re here to back you up and make sure the move is smooth and the project is a success.
We’ve got a great track record of delivering successful digital twin projects across Australia.
One of our most recent projects was the Ewert Leaf project, where we developed a digital twin to optimise energy use and reduce operating costs.
Just drop us a line, and we’ll arrange a meeting. We’re here for you 24/7, ready to guide you through the process and help you turn challenges into opportunities.
Or, if you just want to get a quick overview, you can visit and read our Interscale BIM Management Support page here.
In Closing
Digital twins are a great way to make buildings and infrastructure better. They help with design, construction and management.
If we embrace this technology, we can create a more sustainable, efficient and resilient built environment for future generations.
Luckily, companies like Interscale can help you make the maximum use of digital twins in the built environment.
